The Authentic Valmiki Ramayana

Hanuman tells Sri Rama, how Sita expressed her doubt in the first instance about a monkey being able to leap across a vast sea and how her doubt was resolved by him.Recitation: 00:00 - 05:10Translation: 05:13 - 12:00*** END OF SUNDARAKANDA ***

Hanuman reproduces at length the incident connected with a crow that took place during the sojourn of Sita with Sri Rama at Chitrakoota, related by her by way of a token, and further describes her piteous lament and the way in which she was comforted by Hanuman.Recitation: 00:00 - 07:24Translation: 07:27 - 17:43

Pressing to his bosom the jewel for the head sent by Sita and piteously wailing in many ways, Sri Rama urges Hanuman to repeat the message of Sita.Recitation: 00:00 - 02:47Translation: 02:51 - 07:06

Asked by Sri Rama to tell him the news about Sita, Hanuman apprises Sri Rama of her presence at the foot of a Shimshapa tree in the midst of ogresses and delivers her message after narrating the incidents related by her as a token.Recitation: 00:00 - 04:52Translation: 04:56 - 11:38

Returning to Madhuvana as commanded by Sugriva, and craving the forgiveness of Angada, Dadhimukha submits to the latter that he is urgently summoned by Sugriva. Set out in the company of Hanuman and others, and approaching Sugriva, Prince Angada apprises Sri Rama, after saluting him, of the discovery of Sita and other events.Recitation: 00:00 - 07:27Translation: 07:31 - 17:21

Having heard from the mouth of Dadhimukha the story of Madhivana having been laid waste by the monkeys, Sugriva concludes from the jubilation of the monkeys that Sita has been traced out. Comforting Dadhimukha, he asks him to send Angada and others without delay.Recitation: 00:00 - 05:50Translation: 05:53 - 13:40

Having entered Madhuvana and partaken of honey, as permitted by Hanuman, and singing and dancing like drunken people, the monkeys were forbidden by those guarding the grove and they belaboured the latter. Repulsed by them, the guards reported the matter to their leader, Dadhimukha, who appeared on the scene with his entourage and on remonstrating with the monkeys was thrashed by Angada, who dashed him to the ground. The guards headed by Dadhimukha then move en masse to Kishkindha to report the matter to Sugriva and bow down at the latter's feet.Recitation: 00:00 - 06:25Translation: 06:30 - 15:00

Set out from the Mahendra mountain in the direction of Kishkindha, the monkeys halt at Madhuvana, a grove guarded by the monkey Dadhimukha and most beloved of Sugriva, which falls on their way. When the monkeys began to enjoy the fruits of the grove with the permission of Prince Angada, Dadhimukha, comes in their way and is lacerated with their claws and teeth.Recitation: 00:00 - 04:38Translation: 04:42 - 10:27

Feeling encouraged by the tributes paid to his valour by his fellow monkeys, Price Angada undertakes to exterminate the entire ogre race including Ravana and bring back Sita from Lanka. Jambavan, however, who is more sagacious and practical-minded, discourages him by recourse to potent counter-arguments.Recitation: 00:00 - 03:39Translation: 03:43 - 09:12

Picturing to his fellow monkeys the said plight of Sita, and feeling that it behoved them all to see Sri Rama only after recovering Sita from Lanka, recounting the past heroic exploits of Jambavan and others, Hanuman incites them all to have recourse to the arbitrament of war.Recitation: 00:00 - 05:33Translation: 05:37 - 13:41

Enquired by Jambavan, seated along with the monkey hordes, Hanuman narrates in extenso how he saw Mount Mainaka in the course of his journey to Lanka, reached Lanka, beheld Janaka's daughter and returned to Mount Mahendra.Recitation: 00:00 - 27:08Translation: 27:11 - 01:00:53

Having leapt from the coast of Lanka and touching the Mainaka mountain, which he came across in the way, advancing further, Hanuman roars at the top of his voice at the sight of the Mahendra mountain in order to bring joy to the monkeys awaiting his return there. Jambavan tells the monkeys, who got up impetuously on hearing the roar, that Hanuman has returned successful from his expedition as was evident from his jubilant roar. Having greeted Jambavan and others on alighting on the summit of the Mahendra mountain, Hanuman narrates to them in a nutshell the story of his discovery of Sita. Applauding Hanuman, Prince Angada, who was eager to hear the story, sits down to do so on an extensive flat rock along with all. Recitation: 00:00 - 08:53Translation: 08:55 - 20:11

Hanuman sees Sita once more and bidding adieu to her, takes a leap across the sea.Recitation: 00:00 - 08:33Translation: 08:37 - 19:25

Seeing the whole of Lanka reduced to ashes and presuming Sita too to have shared its lot, Hanuman begins to reproach himself and gets overwhelmed with grief. In the meantime, he hears of her safety from the lips of Siddhas, Chaaranas (celestial bards) and others and feels comforted.Recitation: 00:00 - 06:03Translation: 06:06 - 15:12

Making up his mind to set fire to the city of Lanka, which was the only work left for him to do, and coming out into the open, Hanuman burns the entire city barring the abode of Vibhishana. Astonished to see the city burning, the gods and Gandharvas (celestial musicians) are filled with supreme joy.Recitation: 00:00 - 09:40Translation: 09:43 - 22:10

Wrapping up the tail of Hanuman in rags and soaking it in oil, and then lighting it up, the ogres, as urged by Ravana, take Hanuman round the city to the accompaniment of beats of drums. Hearing this news from the lips of the ogresses, Sita prays to the god of fire on oath to see that Hanuman remains unscathed. Climbing up the gate and shedding the fire by attenuating his body, and then resuming vast proportions and seizing the iron bar of the gate, Hanuman kills with it the ogres guarding the gate.Recitation: 00:00 - 07:53Translation: 07:56 - 18:14

Provoked by the harsh words of Hanuman, Ravana orders him to be put to death. Vibhishana, however, exhorts the latter to desist from this dastardly act, pointing out that the killing of an envoy is forbidden by the Shastras.Recitation: 00:00 - 05:53Translation: 05:57 - 13:52

Narrating the story of Sri Rama from the latter's entry into the forest, to his own sight of Sita being borne away by Ravana through the air over the Rshyamuka mountain, and celebrating the glory of Sri Rama, Hanuman points out to Ravana that if he longed to survive he should restore Sita to Sri Rama and that he should be prepared for the worst if, on the other hand, he chooses not to part with her.Recitation: 00:00 - 07:52Translation: 07:56 - 19:03

Commanded by Ravana, Prahasta inquires of Hanuman as to who he was as also his motive in devastating the royal pleasance and killing the ogres. In reply Hanuman says that he destroyed the grove in order that he might be taken captive and dragged to the presence of Ravana, whom he was eager to see, and was compelled in self-defence to kill those who stood in his way. In the end he declares himself to be a messenger of Sri Rama and adds that, though protected against the missile presided over by Brahma, he submitted to its influence only in order to be able to see Ravana.Recitation: 00:00 - 03:18Translation: 03:21 - 09:07

Wonderstruck to behold the splendour and glory of Ravana, Hanuman believes that he could even rule over heaven but for his gross unrighteousness which dragged him down.Recitation: 00:00 - 03:35Translation: 03:39 - 08:22

Dispatched by Ravana, Indrajit, Ravana's eldest son, marches against Hanuman. On his shafts being rendered ineffective by Hanuman through his extreme agility, Indrajit takes him captive by discharging the Brahmastra, the unfailing missile presided over by Brahma (the creator). Even though capable of rendering it ineffective, Hanuman yields to its influence, eager as he was to meet Ravana, to whose presence he is led by his son.Recitation: 00:00 - 11:53Translation: 11:55 - 29:35

Prince Aksha, son of Ravana, who came to meet Hanuman in combat, is killed.Recitation: 00:00 - 09:01Translation: 09:05 - 22:02

Having killed five more generals sent by Ravana, Hanuman returns again to the archway of the Ashoka grove.Recitation: 00:00 - 07:03Translation: 07:04 - 16:06

Having made short work of the seven sons of Ravana's chief minister too, Hanuman climbs up the archway again and takes up his position there.Recitation: 00:00 - 03:09Translation: 03: 14 - 07:20

Dispatched by Ravana to capture Hanuman, Jambumali is killed in battle by the former.Recitation: 00: 00 - 03:26Translation: 03:31 - 08:20

Having disposed of the Kinkaras sent by Ravana and making up his mind to demolish the sanctuary sacred to the guardian deity of ogres, Hanuman climbs it up and, killing the guards posted there, exhibits his prowess by uttering the name of Sri Rama in a thundering voice. Nay, uprooting a pillar of the sanctuary, he brandishes and burns the sanctuary with the fire produced thereby.Recitation: 00:00 - 04:25Translation: 04:28 - 10:21

Perceiving the destruction of the royal pleasance at the hands of Hanuman, the ogresses keeping watch over Sita asked her who he was. On Sita's pleading her ignorance in the matter, some of them hurriedly seek the presence of Ravana and report the matter to him. Hanuman makes short work of a company of ogres known by the name of Kinkaras, despatched by Ravana. Thereupon Ravana sends Prahasta's son to punish the intruder.Recitation: 00:00 - 07:31Translation: 07:33 - 16:42

Accounting his purpose not fully accomplished till he had ascertained the strength of his ogres, even though he had received the message of Sita, and making up his mind to lay waste the royal pleasure-garden as a means ascertaining the strength of the enemy, Hanuman proceeds to do it.Recitation: 00:00 - 04:25Translation: 04:31 - 10:59

Asking Hanuman, who was ready to depart, to remind Sri Rama of his having once painted a decorative mark on her cheek with red realgar, and also of how he threw a reed at the crow assailing her, destroying his right eye thereby, as further tokens of Hanuman having met her, and urging him to apprise Sri Rama of her wretched plight, Sita grants him leave to depart with her blessings.Recitation: 00:00 - 04:28Translation: 04:32 - 10:40

Sita asks Hanuman, when the latter is about to depart with the jewel for her head, to apprise Sri rama and Lakshmana of her own welfare and urge them to rescue her. When Sita expresses her misgivings about the capacity of the heroes on Sri Rama's side to cross the sea. Hanuman expatiates on the might of the monkey heroes and assures her of their abilit yto cross it, and in the end consoles her by promising to bring Sri rama and Lakshmana on his back across the sea in any case.Recitation: 00:00 - 09:03Translation:09:06 - 20:54

Asked by Hanuman for a token, Sita narrates the episode of a crow, which occurred on the Chitrakuta mountain, and asks Hanuman to repeat the story to Sri Rama by way of a token. She further sends her greetings to both Sri Rama and Lakshmana, conveys her enquiry after their welfare and communicates to them her resolve to survive only for a month after the expiry of the time-limit prescribed by Ravana; and last of all, she hands over to him, her jewel for the head as a token.Recitation: 00:00 - 11:50Translation: 11:53 - 29:56

Sita, who was distressed to hear of Sri Rama's excessive grief caused by separation from her, implores Hanuman to bring Sri Rama at once to her. Hanuman, who could not bear to see Sita's sad plight, offers to carry her on his back to the presence of Sri Rama and girds up his loins to do so. In order to inspire confidence in Sita, who doubts his capacity to do it looking to his small size, Hanuman assumes a gigantic form. Sita, however, declines to go with him and urges Hanuman to bring Sri Rama to her.Recitation: 00:00 - 11:37Translation: 11:40 - 26:46

Hanuman delivers Sri Rama's signet ring to Sita in order to strengthen her confidence in him. Applauding Hanuman, Sita, who was rejoiced to receive the token, inquires about the health of Sri Rama and others. In order to appease the lady, who felt indignant at the thought that Sri Rama did not care to come to her rescue so far, which led her to suspect that he had ceased to love her, Hanuman attributes his non-appearance to his ignorance about her whereabouts. Describing Sri Rama's desolation in order to betoken his excessive love for her, he consoles her with the assurance that Sri Rama is sparing no pains to rescue her from her confinement.Recitation: 00:00 - 08:33Translation: 08:38 - 20:40

Questioned by Sita, who was anxious to ascertain the bonafides of the monkey, Hanuman, after cataloguing the marks on the person of Sri Rama and Lakshmana, narrates his own life-story from his birth onwards including his role as a minister of Sugriva, and ending with his seeing of Sita.Recitation: 00:00 - 15:12Translation: 15:17 - 36:55

Inferring from the suitable replies to his query received from Sita and the trust reposed in him by the latter, Hanuman reveals to her the role of an envoy allotted to him by Sri Rama and repeats the enquiries made by the two brothers about her welfare. Taking him to be Ravana disguised as a monkey, Sita , on the other hand reproaches him when the latter approaches her in order to bow down at her feet. In order to allay her fears, Hanuman for his part discloses to her his reality as a minister of Sugriva as well as requests her to give credence to his words.Recitation: 00:00 - 06:59Translation: 07:04 - 16:42

Keen to hear of Sita's identity from her own lips, even though he had identified her, Hanuman inquires of her whether she was a goddess or anyone else and asks her to disclose her identity in case she was Sita. In reply to this query Sita narrates to him her whole life-story ending with her abduction by Ravana nd tells him how Ravana was going to kill her two months later, and how in this event of her not being delivered from his clutches before that, she has resolved to end her life by herself.Recitation: 00:00 - 05:37Translation: 05:43 - 13:22

Imagining Hanuman to have been seen in a dream, though actually perceived by her, and believing the sight of a monkey in a dream to be ominous, Sita becomes anxious about the welfare of Sri Rama and others. Then concluding him on other grounds to have been seen in her waking hours, she prays to Brahma and other gods that the statement of Hanuman may come out to be true.Recitation: 00:00 - 03:14Translation: 03:17 - 08:07

Transported with joy to hear the story commencing from the birth of Sri Rama and ending with Hanuman's espying Sita, narrated in a human tongue by Hanuman, remaining perched on the Shimshapa tree and casting her eyes all round, Sita catches sight of Hanuman sitting on a bough of the same Shimshapa tree beneath which she stood. Recitation: 00:00 - 03:43Translation: 03:46 - 09:36

Weighing the pros and cons of comforting Sita or remaining mum, now that he had come to know everything about Sita at first hand, Hanuman decides upon the former course at the psychological moment.Recitation: 00:00 - 07:54Translation: 07:55 - 17:54

The omens described. Concluding them to be auspicious, from the thrill that ran through her body at their sight, Sita experiences great joy.Recitation: 00:00 - 02:15Translation: 02:18 - 05:27

The moment Sita, who was unable to bear the reproaches and threats of the ogresses, endeavours after waiting a good deal to strangle herself to death with the cord used for tying her hair, a propitious omen, never seen before, appears on her person.Recitation: 00:00 - 04:43Translation: 04:48 - 11:15

Risen from sleep, an ogress Trijata by name, speaks to her companions intimidating Sita, of a dream she saw only a few minutes before revealing the triumph of Sri Rama and the discomfiture of Ravana, and stops them from molesting Sita. Pressed by the, she relates the dream to them and also speaks of the omens portending the triumph of Sita.recitation: 00:00 - 09:37Translation: 09:41 - 21:38

Making up her mind not to submit to the advances of Ravana even on pain of death, when menaced by the ogresses, and indulging in speculation as to why Sri Rama was not turning up to rescue her, Sita wails in various ways.Recitation: 00:00 - 08:24Translation: 08:29 - 19:16

Unable to endure the threats of the ogresses and calling aloud to Sri Rama and others, Sita bursts into a wail.Recitation: 00: 00 - 03:34Translation: 03:39 - 07:48

Citing the examples of Shachi, Arundhati and other devoted wives, even though threatened by the ogresses, Sita with a stout heart boldly proclaims her resolve not to submit to anyone else other than her own husband even on the pain of death. Hanuman silently watches her being menaced by the ogresses by means of harsh words and show of weapons, and weeping.Recitation: 00:00 - 08:06Translation: 08:11 - 17:55

Extolling Ravana, Ekajaata and other ogresses posted in the Ashoka grove coax her to accept his proposal.Recitation: 00:00 - 03:42Translation: 03:45 - 07:54

Nettled by the censure uttered by Sita, Ravana allows her a time-limit of two months to revise her decision and threatens her with death if she does not listen to reason. Restored to confidence by the glances of Ravana's consorts, however, Sita condemns him once more. Leaving instructions with ogresses of terrible and ugly aspect to bring her to reason by recourse to intimidation and persuasion, Ravana thereupon leaves the presence of Sita along with his womenfolk.Recitation: 00:00 - 07:59Translation : 08:04 - 18:56

Placing a blade of grass between herself and Ravana in order to avoid direct contact with a man of evil intentions and expostulating with him by showing him the right path, Sita praises Sri Rama and, impressing on Ravana the consequences of the latter befriending or antagonising Sri Rama, advises Ravana to make friends with Sri Rama through self-surrender.Recitation: 00:00 - 05:58Translation: 06:04 - 14:25

Seeking to cajole Sita by means of coaxing words, Ravana implores her to accept him.Recitation: 00:00 - 06:15Translation: 06:19 - 14:27

Finding himself unable, as it were, to depict the mental state of Sita, who got withered up and began to shudder at the sight of Ravana, the poet tries to portray her with the help of similes. Arrived in her presence, Ravana tries to win her.recitation: 00:00 - 04:03Translation: 04:08 - 09:17

Perceiving Ravana surrounded by hundreds of young women and approaching Sita towards the close of night, swayed by passion as he was, Hanuman, who was perched on the top of the Shimshapa tree, silently comes down in order to scan the figure of Ravana and hides himself in the boughs in order to avoid observation.Recitation: 00:00 - 05:40Translation: 05:44 - 13:30